798 Special Talents (1/2)
Sihwa lowered her head and touched the ”call” icon repeatedly with her finger. However, as there was no SIM card in the phone, she could neither dial nor text.
Zhang Zian watched her loneliness in silence. Empathy and sadness filled his heart.
He knew that she was lonely. She was all by herself every day in a small room, watching the world outside from a small window. She only had some occasional interactions with Fina. He had been out a lot these days and had even barely talked to her.
She was lonely, as she was neither considered herself a human nor a fish. She might be the only mermaid in the world. There was no other of her kind.
The other elfins in the shop, whether cats or dogs, had many companions. Even Pi had companions––countless monkeys tapping keyboards all day. Sihwa was the only one without a companion, born all by herself into the world.
She yearned to be loved. That was why she became so obsessed with Korean dramas that were known for their love romances. There were other mermaids in the Korean dramas she watched. She was loved by the hero. They lived happily ever after in the end.
Who didn't want happiness? Even if the happiness was imaginary.
She would rather believe that there was a handsome, rich young man waiting for her with a smile somewhere far away. It became her belief and obsession. Otherwise, how could she survive the countless days and nights thereafter?
Zhang Zian uttered, ”You just want to make a phone call? Why don't you just tell me?”
Sihwa lifted her head and looked at him with red eyes. ”What?”
”I can help you get a phone card. Then you can make phone calls––not only phone calls, but you can also text, WeChat, and use any other communication tool you need,” Zhang Zian said.
”Really?”
She finally smiled in surprise. ”Does it cost money to make phone calls? But I don't have money…”
”Just owe it like that. Anyhow, you still owe me a cellphone, a bubble bath bomb, around seven tons of tap water, 50kwh of commercial electricity…” Zhang Zian named a few things while counting his fingers.
”...A-jeoan, you'll never have a girlfriend if you stay this cheap!” She was totally speechless, but her sadness was gone.
”Quack! ...Quack?”
Zhang Zian knew what Richard was about to say. Before it had uttered a word, he took the green basin and tossed it where the sound came from so that Richard would shut up completely.
”But even if you can make a call, you must know the number of whom you want to call. Do you know the number?” he asked.
Sihwa shook her head slowly. ”I don't know for now, but I will find out.” Her voice and tone were gentle, but full of resolution.
”Fine. After lunch, I'll go to the closest mobile service branch and get you a phone card,” Zhang Zian said.
He could apply for a phone card online, but the mailing would take a long time. It was more convenient to drop by the mobile service branch so that he could get it right away.
”Well… Well…” She repeated the word ”well” for a long time, then finally spoke in a low voice, ”Thank you.”
Right after that, she looked out of the window.
If Zhang Zian remembered correctly, it was the first time she had said ”thank you.” Before that, no matter what request she had made, she looked as if she took everything for granted.
He remembered Old Time Tea's words and wanted to wash the mud-tainted lotus flower with clean water.
The two words were short, but they were solid progress.
”You are welcome,” Zhang Zian said. ”By the way, you still owe me the 19 RMB monthly fee.”
”Humph! Cheap!” Sihwa turned her head back, staring at him in anger.
Zhang Zian confessed: ”I have no choice! My business is small. Do you think I'm making easy money? I want to save every single penny.”